Valerie Tarr Wood
Obituary
Valerie Paterson Tarr Wood passed away April 21, 2003 at the Montreal General Hospital after a three year fight with breast cancer.
Valerie was born in Ottawa on August 30, 1947 and moved to Montreal with her family in 1952 where she has lived ever since, both in Town of Mount Royal and Dollard des Ormeaux.
Val was predeceased by her parents, Robert and Barbara Tarr, and is survived by her husband Norris, her daughters, Heather (Patrick Goldik), Nelson in BC and Elizabeth (Matt Belanger). Also surviving her are her sister and brother-in-law, Beverley and David Gowe of Vancouver, her brother and sister-in-law, David and Gisele Tarr of Montreal, her sister-in-law, Barbara Tarr of Toronto, her father-in-law, James Wood of Montreal and brother-in-law Peter Wood of Stanstead. Val is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Valerie graduated with her B.A. degree from Bishops University in Lennoxville, Quebec and with her Library Science degree from the University of British Columbia. An Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto, she has been very active in the music world in Montreal and at the time of her death she was Music Director at St. Augustine's Anglican Church in Pointe-Claire. Previously she held that position at St. Barnabas Anglican Church in Pierrefonds. Val was also President of the Ontario Guild of English Handbell Ringers from 1997-99.
Valerie loved and enjoyed her extended family, her friends, the family cottage near Wakefield, Quebec, her music involvements, her church ministries and last but not least her Lord Jesus Christ. She will be very much missed by all who knew her.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 26, at two o'clock at the Church of St. Augustine, 176 Westcliffe Ave., Pointe-Claire.
In lieu of flowers, a donation in her memory to St. Augustine's, the Canadian Cancer Society, or the charity of your choice would be appreciated.
THOUGHTS ON A FORTY+ YEAR FRIENDSHIP—What I know of Val & what I learned from her
by Helen Booth
Faith
Val had a deep faith and she lived a truly Christian life
Respect
She was respectful of all her family, friends, and animals. Wherever Val was, she had a pet dog! I remember Buffy, Tammy, Flash, and Fluffy
Instruments
Who could talk about Val without mentioning her music? Val just kept getting better and better. Val was a beautiful pianist and shared her love of music with her students. She played clarinet in MRHS Band. (Oh, the fun we had on those band trips! We laughed, we shared stories, we marched in parades.) Back in the TMR, we played—with frozen fingers—for the outdoor Remembrance Day Service. But Val was always there, and steady as a rock. She played the organ at church, and had a Handbell choir—even conscripting Norris and daughters for some performances. Most recently, she conducted musicians at her church—some of whom are in the Montreal Symphony Orchestra!—for a musical. Who better than Val to pull that one off!!
Excellence
To Val's niece and nephews, and grand nieces and grand nephews:
If you want to be in some way like your Aunt Val, be the best you can be... because that's the way Val was: as a daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, friend, and hostess. She always rose to the occasion—and excelled!
Norris
After high school, Val went to Bishop's University. Being friends with Val now meant being friends with Val AND Norris. Theirs was a loving partnership. Norris: I saw love between you two. I saw happiness and trust and the positives of a nurturing relationship. My friend Val showed me how a successful Christian marriage can work. As in other areas of her life, she was not passive in this, but rather she showed her friends and family how hard work in a relationship leads to harmony and joy in a loving marriage.
Daughters
are special Heather, Lizz—Your mother cherished you. She showed me how pride in one's children pays dividends; how support in YOUR endeavours has provided you with the tools to make your lives meaningful, happy, and fulfilling. As an example and this goes back a number of years—you must have had the biggest list of friends wanting to come to your birthday parties. What other mother than Val would sew 'Barbie' doll clothes for you and all your friends at your birthday party, and all the while, she was calm, and kind, and ever so loving to you both.